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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr caused an uproar in September when he pressured ABC to suspend TV host Jimmy Kimmel for controversial remarks. Critics charged that Carr’s threats amounted to a government violation of free speech rights.
But, as media historian Michael Socolow notes, similar government attacks on TV networks have occurred repeatedly in U.S. history, under both Republican and Democratic administrations. John F. Kennedy’s FCC chairman castigated TV outlets for not airing more programming in support of U.S. democracy during the Cold War. And George W. Bush’s FCC chairman levied a fine on CBS for a “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl.
This bipartisan enthusiasm to pressure broadcasters exists because the Supreme Court has upheld the FCC’s expansive power to license networks, writes Socolow. This means that no First Amendment exists in American broadcasting, with powerful governmental oversight separating the medium from any other form of mass communication in the United States.
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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr testifies in Washington on May 21, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Image
Michael J. Socolow, University of Maine
Pressuring broadcasters by leveraging the powers of the Federal Communications Commission occurs no matter which party controls the White House.
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Education
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Neal H. Hutchens, University of Kentucky; Jeffrey C. Sun, University of Louisville
American colleges and universities have traditionally encouraged free speech. Recent dismissals of professors are eroding their commitment to this core mission.
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Economy + Business
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Rodney Coates, Miami University
Tighter federal borrowing limits may deepen inequities, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
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Aradhna Krishna, University of Michigan
Fans of redistribution may find something good in the latest AI-powered development in pricing.
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Vivek Astvansh, McGill University
The coffee giant is pivoting back to its ‘third place’ roots – but the shift away from grab-and-go customers could open the door for rivals.
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Politics + Society
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Sam D. Hayes, Simmons University
A case being argued at the US Supreme Court could undo one of the last remaining protections for minority voters in a Civil Rights-era voting law.
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Environment + Energy
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Mahelet G Fikru, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Jennifer Brodmann, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Companies with relatively many patents and more employees own facilities that tend to release lower proportions of their toxic waste into the environment.
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Science + Technology
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Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, University of Michigan; Ward B. (Chip) Manchester, University of Michigan
Unprecedented simulations show the formation of space tornadoes capable of causing strong geomagnetic storms around Earth, calling for earlier and more accurate warnings.
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Health + Medicine
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Laura Ferguson, University of Southern California; Bistra Dilkina, University of Southern California
Acute malnutrition weakens a child’s immune system, which can lead to severe illness and an increased risk of death.
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